Dirty Springboks called to account

By Mick Cleary

12:01AM GMT 25 Nov 2002

South Africa flew out of Heathrow last night with condemnation ringing in their ears for their brutal play during Saturday's record 53-3 defeat at Twickenham, a victory that puts England top of the world rankings. It also resulted in a string of allegations against the Springboks for their wild and reckless challenges.

Full-back Werner Greeff was cited yesterday evening by the independent match commissioner, Paris lawyer Paul Mauriac, for the high tackle on Bristol wing Phil Christophers in the 59th minute that led to the awarding of a penalty try. Despite their own anger, England made no recommendations for citing review to the commissioner.

A three-man disciplinary panel is to be convened to study Greeff's case and also that of Springbok lock Jannes Labuschagne, who was sent off in the first half for a late tackle on England's outside-half, Jonny Wilkinson. That hearing will probably take place tomorrow.

The two sides next meet in Australia in a crucial World Cup pool game next year with the winners having a much easier route through to the final. That Oct 18 showdown in Perth will have added significance after the brooding violence of the weekend.

"I agree that there will be a massive amount at stake in all senses and that potentially it will be all-out war," said Austin Healey, who replaced the injured Wilkinson in the 44th minute. "It's incredibly difficult to keep your concentration and self-discipline when you feel your personal safety is at risk. Every time you passed the ball you expected to get hit after the ball had gone. We retaliated in the right way by winning the match."

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Wilkinson damaged his left shoulder when Springbok centre Butch James hit him late. Full-back Jason Robinson is seeking medical advice this morning after damaging an ear-drum.

"It was appalling out there," Robinson said. "South Africa were dirty from the start. They should concentrate on playing the game rather than trying to maim everyone. The game's tough enough as it is but they were trying to hurt you purposefully. There's a difference between physicality and cheap shots. Their game was full of cheap shots."

Robinson was kicked on the head and Wilkinson flattened time and again. "Jason and Jonny were targeted," said Phil Larder, England assistant and former GB rugby league coach. "The game should be about trying to win, not put opposition players in a heap. In all my time in league I never saw a game as vicious as Saturday's."

Wilkinson watched his team, Newcastle, go down 17-13 to Saracens at Vicarage Road yesterday. "The shoulder is really painful," he said. "I didn't really know what was going on at the time because I had a bang on the head when I hit the floor. It was only at a line-out downfield later that Martin Johnson told me the guy had got a red card. It's all very frustrating to get injured like this."